Gelatin sponge comprising an active ingredient, its preparation and use

A method for promoting blood coagulation, comprising administering to a wound or a bleeding site a cross-linked gelatin sponge obtained by the steps of:

• a) providing a cross-linked gelatin sponge having at least one surface;
• b) homogenously applying an aqueous liquid comprising a protein or peptide active ingredient to said at least one surface of said sponge, wherein the volume of the liquid intake into said surface of said sponge is equal to or less than 5% of the volume of the sponge in a);
• and
• c) drying the sponge by a drying step selected from the group consisting of thermal drying, vacuum drying and freeze drying, wherein the obtained dry cross linked gelatin sponge comprises a stable layer of protein or peptide active ingredient on at least one surface of the sponge, the layer having an average thickness of not more than about 24% of the overall thickness of the sponge, wherein said layer is substantially homogenously distributed throughout said surface;
• and the thickness and the flexibility of the sponge are substantially similar to those found in the original counterpart non-layered gelatin sponge.